The FINANCIAL — Celebrity pet-owners like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears have prompted a rise in the demand for miniature dogs the world over including in Georgia.
It is more common for such dogs to be seen with female companions, while most men prefer to have a more masculine breed such as a Caucasian Shepherd or Bull Terrier. All dog owners are advised to take their dogs to their local vet every month. Those who are thinking about buying a dog should be prepared for the responsibilities, not least financial.
Will you have enough time to spend training, grooming and exercising a dog? Are you ready to spend the extra money to ensure the best future for your dog? These are the main questions you need to answer before buying a dog. But if you have already made the decision, you should know the following.
Vets warn dog owners that dog diseases can be dangerous for their owner’s health as well in case of neglect. Feeding, vet bills, regular inoculations, general health and any accidents or illnesses that might befall a dog are a part of the dog care process.
“Dog rabies and different viral diseases can all be found in dogs. If a dog is sick, the owner is at risk of the disease’s infestation through mosquito bites,” vet Gena Simonov explains. “Those who are looking to own a dog should be responsible for the dog and should take care of him/her properly. Food and water, shelter, safety, regular veterinary care and exercise are very necessary for every dog. Otherwise your dog will suffer from physical problems and will have behavioural problems too,” added Simonov.
“Dogs need feeding twice a day. No more,” said Natasha Mestvirishvili, vet. “Dogs need daily exercise, at least two walks a day to expend their natural energy. Part of looking after dogs is keeping them clean. Don’t just wash the dog whenever you feel like it. How often you wash the dog should depend on how dirty it gets. And finally, take them to the vet at least once a year. Dogs are not able to tell us when they feel ill, so we have to guess,” she added.
A dog’s health and beauty are closely linked with each other. Bathing, grooming, ear and nail care can all make a dog look beautiful and healthy. Like other pets, dogs don’t care about fashion and beauty, but their owners do. Dog owners have found that dogs appreciate as much attention as they can get; like people, dogs need to look and feel beautiful.
Do you know how much you need to make your dog look beautiful? The only ‘dog beauty salon’ in Tbilisis, Zooplaza, located at Kostava 67, offers to keep your dog looking and feeling their best. At least 150 GEL is necessary for making your dog look fashionable. At least 200 dogs visit the salon periodically.
“First of all, a dog needs bathing, which isn’t fun for most dogs, but they get used to quickly. We use professional shampoo and conditioner from France and the Netherlands. We offer antiphrastic shampoos. Also shampoos with floral and citrus aromas, for problematic skin and so on. Of course it is possible to bath your dog at home, but it’s difficult to dry its fur properly at home, which can cause future problems,” said Ina Rukhadze, the Director of Zooplaza.
As the hairdressers explained, a second bath is often necessary to ensure that the entire body has been cleaned. Dogs should be bathed with warm, not hot water.
The second procedure, grooming, is both hygienic care and cleaning of the dog. Depending on the dog’s breed, age, and health, grooming may be a daily activity. For example, Poodle, Bichon Frise and Shish Tzu typically need their hair cut every 10-14 days for hygiene reasons.
“Grooming isn’t just beauty care. All good dog owners should know that grooming is important as it frees the dog from annoying skin problems and parasites. If a dog doesn’t have long hair, then grooming isn’t necessary. In this case brushing is enough. It is for checking for fleas and ticks. Daily brushing is required for long-haired dogs, medium-haired dogs need weekly brushing and short-haired – a month in between brushing,” said Rukhadze.
Long and ingrown nails can disturb a dog while walking. They shouldn’t be cut too short as this hurts the dog as well. If a dog’s nails are allowed to grow too long then walking will become increasingly painful to the dog. This procedure is one of the most popular at Zooplaza Dog Beauty Salon. But, as Ina Rukhadze said, just cutting long nails isn’t the whole procedure, which involves a manicure too.
“Manicures are mainly given to decorative dogs that are walked often. Whatever colour manicure the owner of the dog has is almost always the colour given to the dog,” said Rukhadze.
Ear care is almost the last step of a dog’s hygiene procedure. Some dogs can go their whole lives without ear problems, and the only routine ear cleaning needed is during their monthly bath. Other dogs have chronic ear disease and require multiple cleanings a day.
To accomplish all these procedures, a stylist needs at least two hours per dog. The duration and difficulty of a procedure determines the price too. 30 GEL is the starting price. Tamriko Rostomashvili, the owner of a Shnautser, spends at least 150 GEL per each visit to the dog beauty salon. “My Shnautser has long hair. My dog visits a beauty salon twice a year. 150 GEL costs the whole service without washing. For washing alone, my dog and I need 40 GEL a month,” said Tamriko Rostomashvili. “If you decide to have a dog, you need to be responsible for it. A dog is vulnerable, just like a small child. If you don’t look after you dog, then shame on you! You would have an unwashed and dirty dog,” added Rostomashvili.
Quality and comfortable pet wear and accessories are also given much attention. Clothes and shoes for your dogs are available at Zooplaza shops. Underwear is sold for 19 GEL. Other things are also available: a collar – 89 GEL; head collar – 47 GEL; dog leads – 16-37 GEL; bed – 180 GEL; little house – 570 GEL; comb – 30 GEL; bowl – 15 GEL; and toothbrush – 27 GEL.
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